Pasteurizing apparatus.



L. S. PFOUTS.

PASTEURIZING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED AUG. 6. 1913.

Patented May 30,1916.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. s. PFOUTS PASTEURIZING APPARATUS. APPLICATION-FILED AUG. 6, 1 913. 1y 1,185,531. 1 Patented May30, 1916..

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L. s. PFOUTS.

PASTEURIZING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AU G.6. 19l3.

1,185,531, Patented May 30,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT onrion.

LEROY S. PFOUT S, F CANTON. OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO TH E MILLER PASTEUBIZINGMACHINE COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PASTEURIZING APPATUS.

Application filed August 6, 1918. Serial No. 783,358.

To all :whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that. I, LEROY S. PFoU'rs, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county ofStark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in and Relating to Pasteurizing Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to pasteurizing ap paratus and particularly toapparatus adapted to treat liquid, such as milk.

I have illustrated my invention in connection with a liquid treatingapparatus, such as shown and described in my application filed January25, 1909, Serial No. 474,128, It will be understood, however, thatmylimprovements in liquid distributing and holding mechanism forpasteurizing apparatus may be used in connection with a liquid treatingapparatus of any suitable or preferred construction, and .while theembodiment of the invention illustrated herein has been conformedtocooperate with the general construction of apparatus shown in my saidapplication, it may be adapted to suit any particular construction ofapparatus in connection with which it may be used Referrin to the.drawings, which show one embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my apparatus operatively connected with the liquid treatingapparatusdescribed in my aforesaid application. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation, partly in section, of the liquid distributing and holding'mechanism. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the valve mechanism. Fig. 5 is abottom plan view of the valve member and valve seat element. Figs. 6 and7 are perspective views of the valve members. Fig. 8 is a fragmentarysection showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

In the drawings, A indicates-a heater for the liquid, B a. preliminarycooler, and C a final cooler, each of which is shown merely for thepurpose of illustration.

'coolers B, C, are preferably arranged in stepped relationship to eachother in order that the liquid may flow by gravity from one to the otherand finally be discharged by the discharge pipe, indicated at 0, carriedby the final cooler G, into any suitable receptacle (not shown).Preferably the floor 1 for the apparatus 1) is elevated, as shown at l,to provide for the proper flow of the liquid therefrom to thepreliminary cooler B.

The heater A comprises an inner rotary vessel a connected with a drivenshaft a and adapted to hold a heating medium; an intermediate vessel asurrounding the vessel a and forming therewith a liquid film space a andan outer vessel a, surrounding the inner and intermediate vessels a aand adapted to form with the outer walls of the latter vessel a chamberto receive a suitable heating medium.

The shaft a is geared to a driving shaft a",I which is mounted inbearings in a pedesta a suitable motor, such as indicated at a".

Each of the coolers B and 0 comprises an inner rotary vessel 6 connectedwith a driven shaft 6; an intermediate vessel 6 and an outer vessel 6*.These vessels are constructed and arranged relatively to'each other toform a liquid film space, and a space or chamber on opposite sides ofthe film space for a suitable cooling medium.

The shafts b, are connected to and driven by a driving shaft 0", whichis mounted in bearings provided therefor in the base, indicated at 0 onwhich the preliminary and final coolers, B, -C,are mounted. ,The shaft0* may be driven from any suitable source of power, such as a motorc Theheater A, and coolers B and C, are constructed, generally, and operatesimilarly to corresponding parts shown and de-. scribed in the patentissued to John C. Miller, on the ath day of February, 1908, and numbered878,225; and as the particular construction of each thereof forms nopart of the present invention, further description of these parts willbe omitted, as

they are fully shown and described in the patent, to which reference mayThe shaft 0 may be driven by a.

is preferably provided with flanges 2 2,

around its opposite peripheral edges, the flange 2 serving as a bearingsurface on which the base 2 rests, and the flange 2 serving as a supportfor the plate 2, the latter'bei'ng secured to the flange 2 in a wellknown manner. At 2, the plate 2 is 7 formed with an-opening to receive aliquid receiving vessel 3, which will be later described.

2 indicates one or more cross members, preferably integrally connectedat their opposite ends to the wall of the annular member 2. The crossbars 2 carry a vertically arranged'axial member 2, having a bearing toreceive a shaft 4 of a valve mechanism 4, which will be later described.At its lower vend the. shaft 4 has fixed to it a worm gear 4*.

2 indicates a plurality of lugs depending from one of the cross bars 2.

are bored to receive and support the inner end of a driving shaft 5. Theopposite end of the shaft 5 is supported in a bearing 2 provided on theannular member 2.

5 indicates a worm fixedtothe shaft 5 and meshing with the gear 4" todrive it in a well known manner.

I 5 5, indicate fast and loose pulleys carried by the outer end of theshaft 5 and adapted to receive a belt (not shown),

' 1 whereby the driving shaft may be caused to ii-rotate. It will beunderstood fromthe drawlngs 3 5 *,as-reducti on gearing, whereby'thespeed of that the worm gear 4* and worm 5 serve the shaft 4:, ascompared with that of the driving shaft 5, is relatively slow.

member? may serve as a support for the vessel 3.-

As will be understood from the drawings,

the flange 3 cooperates with the outer wall of the vessel 3 to form anannular liquid receiving receptacle surrounding the shaft 4:.

6 indicates a conduit connected with a suitable opening formed in thebottom of the receptacle 3 and adapted to conduct the liquid from thereceptacle to the point of delivery indicated at 12.

-7 indicates a seriesof brackets mounted on the plate 2'.." The bracketsare prefer- .ably inclined upwardly and extend radially of theaxis ofthe shaft 4 and support at their outer or free ends an annular table orsupport 8. As will be understood from the drawings, each bracket 7 isprovided at its opposite'ends with suitable flanges 7 a which permit thebracket'to be rigidly secured in a well lmown manner to the plate 2' andThese lugs the purpose of imparting rigidity to them.

The table or annular support 8 preferably comprises a series of arcsections 8' arranged I end to end and each flanged along its oppositeside edges to strengthen it.

8 indicates a plurality of openings formed in the table 8 and adapted toreceive a series of .independent or separate holding vessels 9. Theopenings 8* are preferably. uniformly spaced from each other anddisposed midway between the brackets 7.

The valve mechanism 4 includes a valve member 4? and a valve seatelement 10 which cooperate to control the flow of the liquid to-and fromthe vessels 9. The valve member 4 preferably comprises a circular plate41 provided with 9. depending rim or wall 4*, which may be of conicalshape, and a socket member 4 to receive the upper end of the shaft 4. Atone side and between the plate P" and rim 4", the walls of the valvemember P are thickened and formed with two ducts 4, 4. The duct 4 servesas the conduit for ,the' liquid as it flows to the vessels 9, its innerend opening upwardly preferably centrally of the valve member 4 and itsopposite or outer end leading through the rim 4*. The duct 4 conductsthe liquid through the valve member when a vessel 9 is emptying, itsreceiving end or port leading through the rim 4*, and preferablyadjacent to the port of the duct 4*, and its opposite or discharge portopening downwardly at one side of the shaft 4, as shown in the drawings.The valve seat element 10 preferably comprises a ring member formed witha series of openings 10 (preferably uniformly spaced therearound andcorresponding in number to the numberof'holders or vessels 9), withwhich the ports of the ducts 4 4, in the member .45 successivelyregister as said valve member rotates. The inner wall of the ring memberis shaped to snugly fit the outer conical wall of the-member 4 toprevent leakage 'of the liquid.

' 10 indicates a series of pipe sections, preferably formed integralwith the ring member 10 and extending radially therefrom,

there being. a pipe section for each opening 10%. The function of thepine sections will be later-described.

The vessels 9 may each comprise inner and outer Walls to form a spacebetween them. This space may be filled with cork, as shown at 9', orsome other non-conductor of heat to bottom, a suitable pipe section 9being pro-f vided for said duct and adapted for conveying the liquid toand from the vessel as will be later described.

9 indicates a flanged ring secured to the outer wall of each vessel 9.As will be understood from the drawings, when a vessel 9 is inserted inan opening 8, the flange of the ring 9 will engage with the uppersurface of the table 8 and serve to maintain the vessel 9 thereon. Thisconstruction serves to support the vessels in upright position and topermit their removal at will for cleaning or other purposes. I

11 indicates a receiving chamber preferably arranged substantiallyaxially of the holders 9 and slightly elevated relative thereto topermit the flow of the liquid by gravity to the holders. The chamber 11is provided with a. suitable cover 11 through which extends thedischarge end of a pipe a which conducts the liquid in a substantiallyconvtinuous and uniform manner from the liquid trough or discharge ductof the heater A, to the chamber of the distributing and holdingapparatus D. The chamber 11 is preferably formed of two parts ormembers, an outer member 11*, and an inner member 11", between which isprovided a suitable insulating jacket 11. The jacket 11 serves tomaintain the liquid in its heated condition. The chamber 11 is providedwith an axially arranged outlet pipe section 11, which is detachablyconnected to the upper end of a conduit 11, by a coupling 11. The lowerendof the conduit 11 is detachably connect ed in a well known manner toa coupling 11 which in turn is screw-threaded in the inner end oropening for the duct 4 The pipe or conduit 11 and its connections withthe chamber 11 and valve member 4 serve as suitable means for rigidlysupporting the chamber 11 upon the latter and at a suitable height toefi'ect the flow of the liquid through the apparatus.

The socket member 4 of the valve member 4*" may be secured to the shaft4 in any well known manner; such connection preferably comprises a setscrew 4 whereby the rotary motion of the shaft 4 will'be imparted to thevalve member 4 conduit 11? and chamber 11.

It will be noted that the connection between the discharge end of thepipe a and the cover 11' for the chamber 11 is ofa character whichpermits the chamber and cover to rotate without afiecting the dischargeof the liquid from the pipe a Preferably, the pipe a extends through anaxial opening in the cover 11' and the latter may be provided with ahearing which loosely receives the said pipe.

' tially 11 indicates a depending discharge pipe connected with thedischarge end of the duct 4. The pipe 11* is open at its lower end anddischarges the liquid into the receptacle 3.

"A out ofi' cock or valve 6 may be provided for the pipe 6. 12 indicatesa'discharge pipe leading from the receiver 12 and arranged to convey theliquid in a substancontinuous and uniform manner to the recelving tankfor the preliminary cooler B. A valve 12' may be provided forcontrolling the flow of liquid from the receiver to the tank 5 Thereceiver 12 is preferably mounted on a standard 12. It may be dispensedwith if desired, in which event the liquid will be conducted directly tothe tank I). The tank 1) permits the liquid, after treatment in theholding apparatus D, to be inspected.

10 indicates a pipe, leading from the outer end of each pipe section 10to the adjacent vessel 9. As shown in the drawings, the outer end of thepipe 10 leads to and is connected with the pipe section 9 of the vessel9 by a T-member 10 and coupling 10. The opposite or inner end of thepipe 10 is connected to the outer end of the pipesection 10 by acoupling 10 in a well known manner.-

The pipes 10 and their unions with the vessels 9 and pipe sections 10serve as rigid liquidtight connections between the valve seat element 10and vessels 9.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the ringmember 10 and walls of the member 4 constitute a valve mechanism whichcontrols the flow of the liquid through the pipes 10, to and from thevessels 9 as the openings of the ports 4, 4, register with each opening10 successively. During the time that the valve 10 for an adjacentvessel 9 is in registry with the duct ings 4", 10 being proportioned sothat during the registry thereof sufiicient liquid will flow through thevalve to substantially fill the vessel.

The liquid is held in the vessel 9 during the rotary movement of thevalve member 4*" until the port of the discharge duct 4 registers withthe valve opening 10, whereupon the liquid will flow by gravity from thevessel through the valve opening 10 and duct 4 to the discharge pipe 11.As the ducts 4", 4, and the valve ports thereof are of substantially thesame size, and the valve member 4-rotates uniformly, it will beunderstood that substantially the same quantity of liquid may flow outof each vessel as flowed into it in the same time interval.

The valve port for the duct 4, is preferably arranged in the rim 4*immediately Y ah -which registerssuccessively with the valve ports forthe vessels, provision is made for emptying the vessels in a progressiveman- While the'effect of this construction and operation is to produce amore or less variable and intermittent flow of the liquid through theapparatus, the apparatus may be so proportioned to the apparatus towhich it delivers as to give completely satisfactory results inconnection therewith.

13 indicates a pipe or conduit leading from the pipe a and connected atits outer end to a delivery pipe 6. A valve, preferably of the threewaytype may be interposed at the connection of the pipe 13 with the pipe ato control the flow of the liquid to either the distributing and holdingap-- paratus D or direct to the cooler B, or to cut off the flow of theliquid entirely. The pipes 13 and 6 may be used to conduct the liquidfrom the heater A to the cooler B, when it is unnecessary to treat theliquid in the distributing and holding apparatus D. The pipes 6? and 13may be formed in sections and connected together by couplings 13 in awell known, manner. I

It will be understood that in the system of'pasteurizing liquid to whichmy invention is particularly applicable and in which the liquid ismaintained at a pasteurizing temperature for a predetermined period, it

is desirable to quickly and uniformly heat the liquid to thepredetermined temperature, I maintain the liquid at that temperature fora certain definite length of time in order to destroy or renderinnocuous any germs or bacteria contained in the liquid, and finally tocool the liquid to a normal temperature;

and that it is also desirable that these steps shall be carried out in aprogressive manner, that is, that there shall be a substantiallycontinuous flow of the liquid to and through the apparatus, heater, andfrom the heater to the holder. The holder, however, may deliver ordischarge the milk in a more or less variable and intermittent manner.These results are all accomplished in the apparatus herein described andillustrated, as will be more fully understood from the followingdescribed operations: The liquid" is delivered to a receiving tankhaving a discharge pipe A, which operates as a supply means and fromwhich it flows by gravity to the heater A. In passing through the heaterthe liquid is suddenly and uniformly raised to the desired temperatureand is discharged from the heater by means of the pipe a, which conveysthe liquid to the re- I ceiving chamber 11. As the valve member 4rotates, the duct 4 thereof registers successively with the valveopenings 10 in the ring valve 10 and permits a predetermined quantity ofthe liquid to flow by gravity to each of the vessels, each ductregistering with a valve port for a given period of time, in the rotarymovement of the valve member suflicient, at least, to substantially fillthe adjacent vessel. Likewise, the discharge duct 4 registerssuccessively with the valve openings 10 of the valve ring 10 and permitsthe automatic discharge of the vessels successively.

The valve duct 4 of the valve mechanism 4 may be arranged at anypredetermined point angularly of the axis of the valve member 4 relativeto the port 4", so that the distance of travel of the valve member 4*"from the position for filling to the position for emptying may be ofproper length in order that the period for holding the liquid may befixed according to any particular circumstances desired; From thisconstruction and operation it will be seen that the vessels will beautomatically filled and. emptied .at predeterminedpoints, and that theliquid in each vessel will be held therein for a predetermined period,the extent .of which depends upon the lengthand time of travel from theplace of filling to the place of discharge. It will be obvious that thespeed of the valve member can be changed in various ways to increase ordecrease the period between the filling and emptying of the vessels.

1 am aware of the fact that it has been heretofore proposed to provideapparatus for treating or pasteurizing milk, cream or other liquids inwhich the milk was heated to a pasteurizing temperature while flowingcontinuously, was then maintained at the pasteurizing temperature for asufficient period of time to destroy or render innocuous the bacteriawithout cooking the albumin in the milk, and without the discontinuingof the flow of the milk while being heated, and then cooling the milk,as for example as disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No.684,319, to Frederick G. Short, and I do not lay any claim-broadly to aprocess of treating milk or other liquids and to apparatus such as setforth and disclosed in the said Short patent. On the contrary, I havesought to provide improved apparatus for the treating of milk 01' otherliquids by first heating it to a pasteurizing temperature, then holdingit at that temperature for a predetermined time, and then cooling it. I

It will benoted that all walls of the conduits and receptacles in theholding mechanism, with which any liquid to be treated may come intocontact, are readily accesslble for the purpose of cleaning merely bydisassembling adjacent parts or conduits. The importance of this in thesanitary'handling of milk, for example, is well known.

In Fig. 8, I have illustrated a modified form of valve mechanism anddischarge-way for the liquid. The tank 3 may be supported as abovedescribed. The valve member 49 7 cleaning by disassembling the parts ofthe apparatus immediately above it. In fact, when said parts areremoved, the tank 3 may be lifted bodily upwardly and removed from theapparatus for cleaning or replacing.

To those skilled in the art of making apparatus of the class described,many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of my invention will suggest themselves, without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the descriptionherein are purely illustrative and are not intended to' be in any senselimiting.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a series of vessels, a valve mechanism comprisinga valve member mounted to rotate on a vertical axis and formedwith inletand outlet ducts, each having an inner port'and an outer port, and avalve seat member formed with a'series of horizontally arranged portswith which the outer ports ofthe ducts register'successively, a singlepipe connect-ion between each of said ports of said valve seat memberand the adjacent vessel through which liquid flows to and from saidvessel, means for maintaining uninterrupted communication between theinner port of the inlet duct of said valve member and a source of liquidsupply, means for receiving the liquid discharged by the outlet duct ofsaid valve member, and means for rotating said valve member.

2. The combination of a series of closed vessels each formed with a ductin its bottom wall, a valve mechanism comprising a valve member'mountedto rotate on a vertical axis and formed with inlet and outlet ducts,each having an inner port and an outer port, and a valve seat memberformed with a series of horizontally arranged ports with which the.outer ports of the ducts register successively, a single pipeconnectionbetween each ofthe ports of said valve seat member and theduct for the adjacent vessel through which liquid flows to and from saidvessel, means for supplying liquid to the inner port of the inlet ductof said valve member, means for receiving the liquid discharged by theinner port of the outlet duct of said valve member, and means forrotating said valve member.

3. The combination of a series of v ssels, a valve mechanism comprisinga rotary valve member formed with an inlet duct having an outer portthrough which liquid flows always in one direction to fill the vesselssuccessively and an outlet duct having an outer port through which theliquid flows always in one direction to empty the vessels successivelyand a valve seat member formed with a series of ports with which eachouter port of the inlet and outlet ducts registers successively, aconnection between each of said ports of the valve seat member and theduct for the adjacent vessel through which liquid flows to and from saidvessel, means forsupplying liquid to the inlet duct of said valvemember, means for receiving the liquid discharged by the outlet duct ofsaid valve member, and means for rotating said valve member.

- 4. The combination of valve mechanism comprising two members, onerotatable relative to the other and formed with two ducts, through eachof which liquid always flows in one direction, each having an inlet anda discharge port and the other member being stationary and formed with aplurality of ports, each arranged to register successively with thedischarge port of one of said ducts in said rotatable member and thein-' let port of the other of said ducts in said rotatable member, aseries of stationary liquid holding compartments, a duct leading fromeach of said ports in said stationary valve member to one of saidcompartments to conduct liquid thereto and therefrom, means forsupplying liquid to the inlet port of one of said ducts, and means forrotating said rotatable member.

5. In mechanism of the class described,

ing vessels, a valve member arranged to rotate on a vertical axis andformed with an inlet duct and an outlet duct, the inlet port of saidinlet duct being arranged axially in the top of said valve member andthe outlet port of said inlet duct and the inlet port 'of said outletduct being arranged in a horizontal plane in the side wall of said valvemember, and a valve seat member cooperating with said valve member andformed with a series of horizontally arranged ports with which theoutlet and inlet ports in the side wall of said valve member registersuccessively, a liquid supply connection between each of said ports inthe valve seat member and the adjacent vessel, means for supplyingliquid to the axially arranged inlet port of the inlet duct, means forreceiving the liquid discharged through said outlet duct, and means forrotating said valve member.

6. In mechanism'of the class described, the combination of a series ofliquid holding vessels each formed with a duct in its bottom throughwhich the vessel is filled and emptied, a rotary valve mechanismcomprising a valve seat member and a valve member mounted Within saidvalve seat member to rotate on a vertical axis, the said valve seatmember being formed with a series of horizontally arranged ports, onefor each vessel, and the valve member being formed with inlet and outletducts having ports opening radially in the side wall of said valvemember and adapted to register successively with the ports in thesaidvalve seat member, the inlet port of the inlet duct opening in linewith the axis of said valve member, a liquid tight connection betweeneach of said ports in said valve seat member and the duct of theadjacent vessel, means for supplying liquid to the inlet port of saidinlet duct, and means for rotating said valve member.

7. Inmechanism of the class described, the combination of a series ofliquid holdin vessels, a valve seat member formed wlth a series of portsarranged in a horizontal plane, a rotary valve member formed with inletand outlet ducts through each of which liquid always flow-s in the samedirection, each said duct having an inner port, and an outer port whichis arranged to register successively with the ports of said valve seatmember, a liquid supply connection with the inner port of sald 1n-- letduct, a connection between each of said ports in said valve seat memberand the bottom of one of said vessels, whereby the liquid rises andfalls therein, means for rotating said valve member, and means forreceiving the liquid discharged through the outlet duct of said valvemember.

8. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a series ofliquid holding ,vessels, a valve mechanism arranged in a plane belowsaid vessels, the said valve mechanism comprising a valve seat memberformed with a series of ports arranged in a horizontal plane and arotary valve member formed with inlet and outlet ducts, one port of eachof said ducts being arranged to register successively with the ports ofsaid valve seat member, a connection with the other port of said inletduct, whereby liquid flows through said duct always in one direction, aconnection between each of said ports in said valve seat member and thebottom of the adjacent vessel, means for rotating said valve member, andmeans for receiving the liquid discharged through the outlet ductof'said valve member.

9.. The combination with a support, of a series of vessels mountedthereon, a valve ring member having openings, one for each vessel,liquid-tight connections between each-of said openings and the adjacentvessel, a valve rotatably fitting said valve ring member and formed withinlet and outlet ducts having ports each arranged to registersuccessively with the openings in said valve ring member, a supplychamber connected with the inlet duct, means for rotating the valve, andan annular receptacle arranged about the axis of said valve to receivethe liquid from the outlet duct of said valve.

10. The combination with a base, of a circular series' of vesselssurrounding said base and supported thereby, a valve ring member havingopenings, one for each vessel,-

LEROY s. PFOUTS.

Witnesses HAZEL OWEN, W. H. MILLER.

Correctiohs-inLetters-Patent No. 1,185,531.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,185,531, granted May30, 19i6, upon the application of Leroy S. Pfo1its, of Canton, Ohio, foran improrernent in Pasteurizing Apparatus, errors appear in the printedspecification requiring correction as follows: Page 6, line 19, claim 6,strike out the words opening 'radially ysame page, line 38, claim 7,afterthe word port, first occurrence, strike out the comma; same page,lines 83-85, Claim 10, strike out the words base, of a circular seriesofvessels surrounding said base and? and insert the words support, of aseries of oessels; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwiththese corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of thecase in the Pat entOflice. I Signed and sealed this 18th dayof-July,--A, D., 1916.

' R. F. WHITEHEAD,

[SEAL] Acting Commissioner of Patients.

